Toni Iwobi, a Nigerian IT
entrepreneur who has spent 38 years in Italy, has become the first black
senator in the European country.

He was elected in the industrial
city of Brescia in northern Italy.

“Friends, it is with great
emotion that I inform you that I was elected senator of the Republic!” he said
in a statement.

“After over 25 years of battles
in the great family of the league, it is about to start another great
adventure! My thanks go to Matteo Salvini, a great leader who led the league to
become the first centre-Centre force of the country!

“I have to thank then my National
Secretary Paolo Grimoldi, my now former provincial secretary and new
Congressman Daniele Belotti, the whole team of the department for work done
over these years, the great league militants and all facebook friends for their
support.

“I can’t forget my family,
without them I wouldn’t have come here today because they never stopped
supporting me and being close to me!

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’m ready, friends!”

A member of the anti-migrant
League, Iwobi emerged a town councillor in 1995.

Ansa en Politics, an Italian
website, described him as a committed activist.

Iwobi is said to be the party’s
immigration and security chief, speaking regularly on Italian TV.